2024 community programming
RAMMED EARTH HEARTH
What: A 3-day community workshop
Where: Dennehotso, AZ (exact location shared upon registration)
When: 9am - 3pm, Saturday, June 22 - Monday, June 24
Attendance: 12 participants (All welcome, Diné priority if we reach capacity)
Cost: Free
Workshop Info:
We value and center Diné Bibehaz’aani Bitse Siléí (fundamental Laws of the Diné), which are the traditional teachings and philosophy of our Diné people. The rammed earth hearth workshop supports the importance of the Natural Law teachings, specifically the four sacred elements, including kǫʼ (fire), tó (water), níłchi (air), and tádídíín (pollen). Kǫʼ is the central life force and energy neutering growing Diné families in their homestead. The kǫʼ is a significant component of a Diné hooghan as it warms the home, cooks the food, and protects the home with ceremonies. The rammed earth hearth will be co-constructed in a central location of the project, where it will maintain continuity with the sacred kǫʼ, tó, níłchi, and tádídíín elements and the spiritual beliefs associated with it.
In this 3-day hands-on workshop, we will explore rammed earth construction–a building technique that involves compacting locally available, natural, raw materials such as soil, sand, and gravel into a temporary formwork to create solid, monolithic walls and other forms. Participants will learn to build a rammed earth hearth with a fireplace insert and bench, integrating the sacred element of fire into their homes using traditional earthen building materials found on our Diné landscape and building techniques from the region. Rammed earth also offers several advantages, including thermal stability, fire resistance, low embodied energy, and the beauty of natural materials.
Registration closes June 5, 2024
Activities Schedule
Prep day (NI apprentices only)
Sourcing and testing materials on site
Arranging materials for assembly during workshop
Day 1: Saturday, 6/22
formwork for base and bench
mixing and placing rammed earth
Day 2: Sunday, 6/23
formwork around fireplace insert
mixing and placing rammed earth
Day 3: Monday, 6/24
ramming to the top of the hearth
placing brick for bench seat
Wrap-up day (NI apprentices only)
Install the flue and boot jack
We encourage you to attend the full 3-day workshop and also welcome you to stop by when you can. Please indicate your attendance in the registration.
Location DETAILS
The workshop is located at our project site in Dennehotso, AZ.
Dek’ihootsoh or Deinihootso (Dennehotso, AZ) is home to generations of farmers, weavers, ranchers, healers, and stewards of their mother-clan settlements. Our elder’s translation is “green and yellow meadows” or “green meadow converging to the upper end.” Green, lush ecosystem suitable for rich soil and cottonwood trees. The Laguna Creek feeds the green meadows that used to stream central to our farming areas, which provided water to irrigate the fields. The tó (water) was a vital instrument for our food source, livestock, ceremonies, and the futurity of our community's well-being. Dennehotso’s ecosystem has adapted to dry soil; most farming and livestock management is hauling water from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority infrastructure. The community's natural infrastructure offers dry irrigation systems, sandy walking areas, organic hiking trails made by residents, and horse riding. However, we are resilient, like the remaining tall and beautiful cottonwood trees, and we aim to celebrate Dennehotso through this proposed project. The community is situated along Comb Ridge, a part of the expanding Colorado Plateau. Dennehotso is mapped in the northeastern region of the Arizona Navajo Nation along HWY 160, positioned between Kayenta, AZ, and Red Mesa, AZ.
Site Conditions: Dennehotso is located on the Colorado plateau at an elevation of 5,020 feet and is surrounded by ancient ocean formations. The workshop site is nestled next to petrified sand dunes and rich desert flora landscape . Dennehotso does experience all four-seasons and temperatures fluctuate during the summer months. Please expect high temperatures in the upper 90’s to low temperatures at night to low 50’s. Be prepared for dry southwest heat and possible high-windy days! Stay hydrated and bring sun-protection.
An outside toilet or outhouse is available on-site with a handwashing station. Potable water will be available on-site.
SURROUNDING AMENITIES
Grocers:
Dennehotso Market (small market/deli/laundry), Dennehotso, AZ
Mexican Water gas station and cafe, Mexican Water, AZ (east of Dennehotso)
Basha, Kayenta, AZ (25 miles west of Dennehotoso, AZ)
Restaurants:
Blue Coffee Pot, Kayenta, AZ (25 miles west of Dennehotos, AZ).
Pizza Edge, Kayenta, AZ.
Hampton Inn restaurant, Kayenta, AZ.
Golden Rice Bowl, Kayenta, AZ.
Amigo Cafe, Kayenta, AZ.
Kayenta Monument Valley Inn restaurant, Kayenta, AZ.
McDonald's, Kayenta, AZ.
Taco Bell, Kayenta, AZ.
Burger King, Kayenta, AZ.
Subway, Kayenta, AZ.
Goulding’s Lodge restaurant, Gouldings, UT.
Lodging:
The View Campground (Monument Valley, UT)
Monument Valley KOA (Monument Valley, UT)
Hampton Inn (Kayenta, AZ)
Kayenta Monument Valley Inn (Kayenta, AZ)
Wetherill Inn (Kayenta, AZ)
The View Hotel (Monument Valley, UT)
Goulding’s Lodge Monument Valley (Goulding, UT)
Dennehotso Market with Walking With Dinétah mural by Lynnette Haozous
NI staff and board at Amigo Cafe in Kayenta, Az
about the Instructor
Guru Das is a Tucson based permaculture designer and natural builder with a degree in earth systems science from The University of Arizona. He is a board director and founder of the Development of Regenerative Yields Cooperative (DRY.COOP) and executive director at the Food Conspiracy Cooperative. Currently serving as the GC of the sustainable development company Awareness Ranch Inc. He is a licensed commercial and residential contractor focused on sustainable community development in the state of Arizona. His hobbies include blacksmithing, woodworking, and aquaponics.
